A Columbus, Georgia, man is pursuing more than $10 million in damages following a severe rear-end collision involving a truck driver from a South Carolina amusement rides company. The suit, which was transferred to federal court in Georgia on Friday, centers on the Carnival Truck Collision Trial.
Carnival Truck Collision Trial : Incident Details
Jeffery Watson, the plaintiff, alleges that on March 27, 2023, around 1:30 p.m., he was driving east on Interstate 16 near Exit 143 when he slowed down due to traffic congestion. At that moment, his Ford pickup truck was “violently rear-ended” by a semitruck driven by James Lawrence Butcher. Butcher, a California resident, was operating the truck for Awesome Amusements Inc., based in Florence, South Carolina.
According to the lawsuit, a police vehicle with its emergency lights activated was stationed at the bottom of the exit ramp. Butcher admitted to the investigating officer that he realized he was approaching Watson’s vehicle too quickly and was unable to stop in time.
Injuries and Damages
The collision inflicted significant injuries on Watson. The impact caused his head, neck, and upper body to be forcefully thrown backward, breaking his seat and causing his head to hit and shatter the back window of his truck. Watson’s injuries include trauma to his head, neck, back, shoulder, knee, and overall body, necessitating extensive medical care, surgeries, and therapy costing hundreds of thousands of dollars to date. The suit indicates that ongoing and future medical treatments will be required.
